adam serrano

PORTLAND, Ore. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena addressed the media after the club's 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday.

Arena's thoughts are below.

(On getting a point on the road…)

ARENA:“We played well today. It would have been awful not to get a point out of this game. Our team was very good over the last 60 minutes today.

(On the overall game outcome…)

ARENA: “We played well. We really did. Give credit to them. They got two goals out of this, to their credit. We had to fight real hard to get a point out of this but we deserve the point.”

(On Alan Gordon’s stoppage time goal…)

ARENA: “Great goal. What else can you say?”

(On newcomer Mika Vayrynen’s performance…)

ARENA: “Mika played very well. Obviously it’s going to take him some time to get acclaimed and adjusted to our team but it was a very impressive showing on his part today.”

On Midfielder Jose Villarreal’s performance…

ARENA: “Jose was very good, very good. He got a little tired at the end. I took him off, maybe we could have kept him on a little longer but he played very well.”

(On Goalie Brian Rowe’s performance…)

ARENA: “He did a good job. I think a little bit more experience maybe he’s a little better on that second goal. He’s got to come out and jump on that ball.”

(On how this game may look down the stretch…)

ARENA: “Don’t worry about September and October. We’re worried about next Saturday now. I’m happy you all have us ready for September and October but we have a lot of games ahead to make our team better.”

"It's always a tough place to go. Great fans and great atmosphere. I'm sure, it will be raining again, like it is every year we’re there. I really enjoy the atmoswphere there."

- Robbie Keane on the trip to Portland.

QUESTIONS AHEAD OF THE MATCH:

WHO WINS THE BATTLE IN THE MIDFIELD: JUNINHO OR DIEGO CHARA

The midfield battle will be decided between the two international stars who will look to set the tempo for their respective club. Expect plenty of hard challenges on the small field at Providence Park

CAN ROBBIE KEANE KEEP UP HIS SCORING STREAK IN PORTLAND?

The LA Galaxy may have only one win all-time in Portland, but the Rose City has proven to be a boon town for Robbie Keane. The Irishman has three goals and one assist in four career matches at Providence Park, and will look to find the back of the net again on Sunday.

WHO STARTS IN GOAL FOR THE LA GALAXY?

The biggest question for the Galaxy, however, is who starts in goal for Bruce Arena’s squad. Brian Rowe was rarely tested during LA’s 2-0 shutout of the Fire, but 2014 incumbent netminder Jaime Penedo will be eager to get the nod in goal.

CARSON, Calif. – Drama is par the course when the LA Galaxy travel to the Rose City to take the Portland Timbers, and LA expect another barnburner when the two teams face off on Sunday.

The last time the Galaxy set foot on the turf pitch at Providence Park, the two teams saved the scoring for the dying moments as a Diego Valeri strike in stoppage time negated a Robbie Keane goal moments later. Late game flare-ups are common when the two teams face off as 15 of 39 goals scored in the series all-time have been scored between the 61st and 90+ minutes.

With those late game goals common especially when LA travel to Portland, the question has to be asked, why the added intrigue every time the Galaxy head to Bridgetown?

“When you add a short field with a big crowd, it makes a difference,” Juninho said. “Portland is very good at home. They know that they have to play well at home, and against us, they want to give everything. We need to be aware of that.”

As his team prepares for the challenge ahead, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena says his group must be calm and smart to prevent any further dramatics.

“One of our objectives this season is to be a better team on the road,” Arena said. “Hopefully, we can set the tone, play smart and bring home three points.”

The annual trip to the Rose City has not been kind to the LA Galaxy, but the defending MLS Cup champions will look to turn their luck around on Sunday when they take on the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.

In the latest edition of LAGalaxy.com’s By the Numbers, I take a look at LA’s record all-time in Portland. Even though it may be a bit grim, there is a silver lining as Galaxy captain Robbie Keane has three goals and one assist in four total games in Portland.

Ireland are currently in a three-way tie (with Germany and Scotland) for second in Group D, but would find themselves out of contention due to goal differential. The top two teams from each of the nine groups automatically qualify for the tournament in France. The third place team with the highest point total will also qualify for the tournament while the other eight third place teams will face off in playoffs for the competition's final four slots.

Steven Gerrard is steadily wrapping up his time with Liverpool FC before joining the LA Galaxy in July, but before he leaves England, the legendary Liverpool man will play in the Liverpool All-Star Charity match on March 29 against a team fellow Reds talisman Jamie Carragher at Anfield.

The two captains held a mini-draft on Thursday to divide up some of the star players that will be participating in the game, and during the brief interaction, Carragher couldn’t help but crack a joke about Gerrard’s impending move to the Galaxy.

As the two Anfield legends set up their squads, Carragher chuckled when Gerrard stated that he intended to play the “experienced” tandem of himself and Xabi Alonso in central midfield. The former Liverpool central defender jokingly referred to Gerrard and Alonso as “has-beens” before Gerrard shot back at his former teammate stating that “you can’t buy experience.”

However, it was Carragher who had the laugh by quipping, “LA Galaxy did.”

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The complete video is above.

Miffed at Carragher’s comments about the Galaxy “buying” experience? Agree with him?

CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane has been fined an undisclosed amount by the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee, the league announced on Thursday.

The league’s disciplinary body cited “unprofessional conduct” as the rationale behind their fine of the Galaxy forward. Although it is not stated in the press release, the fine is likely due to a gesture made by the striker after scoring late during the Galaxy’s 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire.

Following training on Thursday, Keane cited “passion” as the reason that he celebrated in that manner.

“If you don’t play with passion like I’ve always done, that’s how I play and that’s how I get the best out of myself and out of players,” said Keane who noted that it was ‘one million percent not directed at fans. “I want to win all the time; I always want things to be better. I do things to get people going in a different way. I’ll do that on the training field or on the field of play, I’ll always continue to do that.

“I know why I did it, it’s to get a reaction from someone else and if it’s going to make us a better team than my job is done.”

“I let my agent deal with it. He’s familiar with Bruce and he knows that I’m happiest when I’m in L.A. I’m glad that it all worked out,” said Buddle. “[Colorado] was bittersweet because at least I got to see it and see why you have a balance. You can’t just go totally young. You need guys who have been in those situations to get out of it. It was a learning curve for me, to add to my career.”

One of the primary reasons that Buddle returned to the Galaxy—other than the weather—was the ability to once again suit up with Robbie Keane. The two paired up at times during Buddle’s 2012 stint with the Galaxy, but several injuries prevented Buddle from creating a lasting partnership with the Irishman.

However, now that Buddle is back, he’s hopeful that he can team up with Keane once more.

“I like to play in harmony with Robbie and the attacking part of the team,” Buddle said. “Hopefully, I’ll get a feel for things and perform.”

But now that he’s back in Los Angeles, just how long can Buddle keep playing? According to the forward, for quite a long time, just as long as he takes his vitamins.

“I feel great. I take a lot Herbalife vitamins,” Buddle said with a grin. “I’ll take advantage of that. It’s year-by-year. A lot of players are playing longer, but I know there a hungry group of players coming into the league. I’m pretty healthy. Right now, I have a strain in my left quad, but I’m just being cautious. I don’t want to do anything that can hurt me long term.”

The 2013 MLS Referee of the Year Hilario Grajeda will serve as the head referee for the LA Galaxy's clash with the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday (4pm PDT, FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes), the Profressional Referee Organization announced on Wednesday.

Grajeda will be making his 2015 regular season debut as a head official after serving as the chief referee for 20 games a season ago. The 47-year-old issued an average of 4.4 yellow cards a game in 2014 while dealing two red cards in total last year.

Grajeda officiated four LA Galaxy games in 2014 with LA complying a 1-1-2 record.